Your stories

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can affect anyone. Patients, carers and Kidney Care UK fundraisers from all over the UK share their stories of diagnosis, dialysis, kidney-friendly cooking and more.

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    • Fundraising
    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure

    Teresa's story: living with CKD

    Teresa shares her story of living with kidney disease, from starting a family with husband Richard, to recovering from cancer, to the difficulties of holidaying on haemodialysis.

    • Diet and nutrition
    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Hayley and Bertram's story: living with CKD

    Hayley and Bertram talk about living with Hayley's kidney disease, from living kidney donation to cooking in the Kidney Kitchen and singing with the Black Living Donor Choir.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis
    • Transplant

    Frankie's story: transplantation and CKD

    Frankie talks about her experiences with haemodialysis and kidney transplantation, from living donation to the paired/pooled scheme and finally receiving a kidney from the transplant list.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Becky's story: World Transplant Games 2025

    Becky shares her incredible story of transplantation – both the failures and the successes – along with her amazing efforts at the World Transplant Games 2025.

    • Transplant

    Kay's story - pregnancy and CKD

    Kay talks about her experiences of pregnancy and CKD, the risks and the joys, and the kidney transplant that she received from her mum.

    • Fundraising

    Fundraising for Kidney Care UK: healthcare professionals

    From skydiving to organising World Kidney Day stalls to marathon running, healthcare professionals Marc, Tadala, Eleanor, Emma and Anna share their experiences of fundraising for Kidney Care UK.

    • Home therapies
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Peritoneal dialysis

    Gemma's story: living with aHUS and PD

    Gemma shares her story of living with aHUS and choosing to start peritoneal dialysis. She discusses the pros and cons of the treatment, from flexibility to disrupted nights.

    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Paul and Andrea's story: kidney donation

    Paul and Andrea discuss their decision to donate their son James's organs after his death, including donating one of his kidneys to Paul's footballing friend.

    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    John's story: kidney donation

    John discusses living with kidney failure and his incredible experience of receiving a kidney donation from the son of a footballing friend.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Bharti's story: living with CKD

    Bharti chats about her diagnosis as a five-year-old, from bullying at school and haemodialysis to starting a family and her new transplanted kidney.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Deirdre's story: living with CKD and cancer

    Deirdre talks about her experiences with kidney disease, dialysis and transplantation, and her cancer diagnosis and remission.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Rare renal
    • Transplant

    Alex and Will's story: PKD and transplantation

    From meeting at a pub to donating a kidney, Alex and Will share their story of PKD, transplantation and Will's family history of kidney disease.

    • Fundraising
    • Kidney conditions

    Fundraising for Kidney Care UK: marathon runners

    From gruelling training sessions to branded nails and sweaty hugs, Kaitlin, Adie, Jamie and Wes share their experiences of running the TCS London Marathon for Kidney Care UK!

    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney conditions

    Candace and Elliott's story: heart failure and dialysis

    Candace, Kidney Care UK's Senior Data & IT Officer, discusses her son Elliott's heart failure, emergency dialysis, heart transplantation and how those experiences help her in her role.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Ben's story: living with IgAN

    After his kidney function deteriorated, Ben's cousin Matt donated a kidney to him. Ben discusses life after transplantation as well as the impact that kidney disease has had on his mental health.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney failure

    Clare's story: haemodialysis and living with CKD

    Clare chats about her CKD diagnosis, the paired/pooled transplant scheme and haemodialysis and its impact on her life as a mum of two young kids.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Holly's story: living with CKD

    Holly, Kidney Care UK's Young Adult Kidney Group leader, chats about transplant, dialysis and how her role supporting young people living with CKD has been informed by her own experiences.

    • Haemodialysis
    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Allison's story: living with CKD

    Kidney Care UK Patient Support & Advocacy Officer Allison discusses her 'favourite' Uncle Jackie, who lived with kidney failure when she was a child, and how those experiences have influenced her.

    • Kidney Care UK staff
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Ellen's story: living with CKD

    Ellen, Kidney Care UK's Support Line Leader, discusses her and her husband James's experiences of living with CKD and how those experiences influence her role.

    • Diet and nutrition
    • Haemodialysis
    • Home therapies
    • Kidney failure
    • Transplant

    Cade's story: living with FSGS

    Cade was diagnosed with FSGS when he was a teenager. He discusses life with a rare condition, from diet to dialysis, and explains how a Kidney Care UK grant helped him to finish college.

    • Kidney conditions
    • Rare renal

    Eloise's story: living with cystinosis

    Eloise has lived with cystinosis since she was a baby. Dad Tom discusses how the rare disease has affected Eloise and her family, from nasty tasting medication to one-handed cartwheels.

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